Friday, August 10, 2012

I don't imagine we're the only ones that consider watching the antics of our animals more interesting than what's offered on cable or satellite TV. Lately though it's been so hot that just sitting outside to enjoy watching isn't something we do. We go out to tend to their needs and get a brief glimpse of their games before we get back inside to "cool off" in our 80° house. Since we've had highs in the 110's lately, 80° isn't so bad!

I haven't written much lately. Too busy/too much brain fog/not enough creative thought process. I'd like to share more frequently, even if it's just a brief story about what we saw that day.

Our "TV" has 12 "channels". We are currently the proud owners of:

1 cantankerous cow who gives false pregnancies

2 young pigs

1 emu

3 turkeys (hoping to have a tom for breeding, but so far we can't tell)

8 ducks

40 chickens

2 rabbits

1 Australian Shepherd puppy

1 cat

2 Barbados lambs

2 Alpine dairy goats

2 young Alpine does

1 Nubian dairy goat

3 young Nubian bucklings

2 other goats-rescued, not sure of their breed, mom and buckling

Not on the property is our Alpine buck. He lives with friends and has a young Nubian buckling to "train". I don't know if you're counting but I think that's 71 animals here and 2 more elsewhere! I'm sure glad we have 2 pastures to feed the big animals so we don't have to buy hay anymore. Next on my "feed" list is to have a garden for all of the poultry birds and the rabbits. Oh, and to grow winter squash and beets to have around in the colder months for all of the animals.

We discovered yesterday that the goats like the mesquite beans that fall from the trees that line the forest service property behind us. Many fall into the yard...more free food!

I'll close with the description of what we saw yesterday evening while milking/tending animals. The little bucklings-that are just now 3 weeks old-walk up a beam that used to be a cross beam for a shade structure, but it fell down on one end, so it's a perfect ladder for walking up to the roof of the shade structure. They go up and then jump down onto a big wooden spool. The young does get in on the action too and it's funny to see them all clambering for position on the beam.

Hopefully this will be the first of many farm tv reports-and more frequently too. If I think of it in the morning I may go out and take pictures of as many critters as I can. Pictures are always nice.